Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing Race Report: LA

LOS ANGELES – Five hundred and fifty truckloads of dirt were placed on the baseball field of Dodger Stadium for the first time ever to create the third round of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship. Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear, powered by Munn Racing KTM, was there to make history as well with its two West Region Supercross Lites riders Austin Howell and Casey Hinson on their KTM 250SX-F race bikes.

The anticipation was in the air as the night program began in front of more than 41,000 fans on Saturday, January 22. This was the first time an AMA Supercross event was held in Los Angeles since 1998.

The AMA Supercross Lites heat race one was the first to start the night show. On the line were Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear riders Howell #61 and Hinson #149 with their Eleven 10 Mods/DR.D tuned KTM 250 SX-F race bikes. Hinson had another great start like he did at round two in Phoenix and was battling for a transfer spot to the main event. While Howell was working his way from the back of the pack as he dealt with the wrist injury from the opening round. At the checkers of the six-lap heat, Hinson finished an impressive sixth to earn his second-consecutive direct transfer to the main event. Howell soldiered on to a 12th place finish, just three spots shy of a transfer. He would move on to the LCQ.

In the LCQ, Howell had four laps to earn one of the two transfer spots. Missing even one round can take its toll on preparation and speed. Howell was running in sixth when he went down. When he remounted, he was at the back of the pack and ended up finishing an admirable 18th place. Even with the injury and missing a race; however, Howell improved during the heat race versus the opening round (13th in Anaheim, 12th in Los Angeles).

Hinson headed to the AMA Supercross Lites main event starting line in his FLY Racing Evolution gear. The fire was burning inside this rider and his four-stroke 250cc machine as he sped off the line with 19 other competitors. In the first lap of 15, Hinson was hit by another rider from behind and went down. Once the two bikes were untangled, Hinson regrouped albeit with a twisted radiator. He would put his head down, gaining even more experience, to earn an 18th place finish in his second main event. Hinson remains in 19th place in the AMA Supercross West Region Lites standings.

“It was awesome to have both riders back as we helped make history at Dodger Stadium,” said Tim Shea, team manager. “I never felt so much excitement at an AMA Supercross event before – more than the opening round. Casey [Hinson] keeps making improvement. Last week he was eighth in his heat, this week he was in sixth to go to the main. Austin [Howell] is not that far off the pace even with his injury and he’ll get there. We are proud of both our riders!"

Shea continued, "We have three races under our belt with our new program with corporate sponsors National Switchgear and Travisa. We are exceeding our expectations as a privateer team to this point and are pumped for the next round in northern California.”

Team Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear, powered by Munn Racing KTM, will head to round three of Monster Energy AMA Supercross on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. Fans be sure to attend the event to see the team’s West Region Lites racers #61 Austin Howell and #149 Casey Hinson competing in the night program fueled by PowerBar on their DeCal Works-emblazoned KTM 250SX-F race bikes. During the pit party stop by the cannot-miss team’s purple and yellow semi hauler to meet the riders and the Violation Goggles girls. Keep posted to the team at www.sheamoto.com.